AWS Executive Insights

How do you run one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds (nearly $2 trillion) while innovating responsibly? In this episode of AWS Executive Insights, hear from Birgitte Bryne, CTO & COO of Norway’s Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), about how NBIM is leveraging data-driven decision making and AI innovation to achieve resilience in the financial world. Take a listen as Tanuja Randery, AWS Managing Director for EMEA, interviews Byrne about NBIM's disciplined approach to digital transformation, including their decision to migrate to AWS public cloud and groundbreaking “Investment Simulator,” which uses AI to optimize trading decisions. Listeners will gain actionable insights on balancing innovation with pragmatism, building a culture of resilience, and leveraging generative AI for competitive advantage.

Discover how Amazon measures and improves developer experience at enterprise scale in this interview with Jim Haughwout, VP of Software Builder Experience at Amazon. Drawing from Amazon's retail business expertise, Jim reveals how the "cost to serve" metric transforms developer productivity measurement by focusing on system-level efficiency rather than individual performance. Learn how Amazon balances developer autonomy with standardization, implements tension metrics to prevent gaming, and leverages AI to re-imagine software development workflows. This essential discussion provides practical frameworks for quantifying developer experience improvements and connecting them directly to business value, from deployment automation to AI-assisted development at scale.

In this episode, we sit down with Lawrence Fong, Director of Digital and IT at Cathay, as he reveals how one of Asia's premier airlines is leveraging AI and machine learning to transform every aspect of their operations. Drawing from his 30+ years of experience at Cathay Pacific, Lawrence shares practical insights on building customer-centric digital transformation, fostering innovation culture, and managing change in the volatile aviation industry. Together with AWS Enterprise Strategist Xia Zhang, Lawrence discusses how leaders in highly regulated industries can embrace digital culture, build agile teams, and create innovation frameworks that drive measurable business outcomes while maintaining premium service standards.

Discover the potential of agentic AI as experts delve into transforming data into actionable outcomes. Learn how to overcome data paralysis and foster a culture of experimentation. Experience practical insights from industries like Formula 1, where focused data use drives rapid decisions. Explore the balance between structured and unstructured data and the importance of sharing insights across organizations. Uncover real-world use cases that highlight measurable productivity gains, and get advice on leading data initiatives for continuous improvement.

In this episode of AWS Executive Insights, Tanuja Randery, VP and Managing Director of EMEA for AWS interviews Darren O'Kelly, CEO of Untold Studios, a next-generation creative powerhouse that has earned BAFTA and Grammy nominations for its groundbreaking work across advertising, music, and film. The conversation explores O'Kelly's journey from traditional VFX production to co-founding an entirely cloud-based creative studio that launched in just six weeks, challenging industry conventions with projects ranging from Super Bowl commercials to Netflix's "The Crown." O'Kelly shares his leadership philosophy of combining "two-thirds experience and one-third naivety," discussing how this approach has enabled Untold Studios to build a culture of excellence that attracts global talent, including major artists like Adele, Billie Eilish, and Oasis. The discussion also delves into the impact of AI and emerging technologies on the creative industry, O'Kelly's commitment to mentorship and diversity, and his vision for the future of storytelling.

Learn how to balance AI innovation with risk management in this episode of AWS Executive Insights, featuring Adam Marré, CISO at Arctic Wolf. Drawing from his unique background spanning everything from the US Army, to video game design at Disney Interactive, to FBI cybercrime investigations, Marré shares his perspective on building next-generation security operations and navigating AI security controls in today's threat landscape. He offers advice for translating security risk into business language, managing third-party risk, and implementing AI-powered security operations without replacing human judgment. Marré also discusses the value of building more diverse security teams through programs like Tech-Moms. This conversation is essential listening for security leaders navigating the intersection of AI innovation, talent development, and enterprise risk management.

Dive into the "AI multiverse" with AWS Executives in Residence Jake Burns and Tom Soderstrom as they explore why some organizations are seeing massive productivity gains with agentic AI while others struggle to see value. Drawing from their extensive enterprise experience, they reveal how treating AI agents like human team members - with clear specifications, iterative feedback, and proper context - can unlock unprecedented productivity gains that far exceed the reported 30% improvements. Burns and Soderstrom share practical insights on creating a culture of experimentation, emphasizing why traditional ROI metrics may hinder innovation and why "return on attention" could be a better early indicator of success. From leveraging multi-agent systems to democratizing AI adoption through "centers of engagement," this episode offers essential guidance for leaders seeking to position their organizations on the right side of AI transformation. Don't miss these actionable strategies for winning in the age of agentic AI!Watch on AWS Executive Insights

In this episode, we’re unpacking the remarkable cultural transformation of Guardian Life, a 165-year old insurance company that’s embracing startup thinking to drive innovation. Hear from Erin Culek, Head of Financial Protection and Retirement Solutions at Guardian, as she discusses how combining AI solutions with customer-centric innovation has dramatically improved the company’s service delivery, reducing four-week processes to near-instant results. Drawing from her experience leading both strategy and business operations, Culek shares how Guardian's "test and learn" culture combined with Amazon’s “two-pizza team” approach is accelerating digital transformation across the enterprise. From fostering a culture of experimentation to implementing transformative AI initiatives, this episode offers essential insights for leaders navigating legacy transformation. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about turning institutional wisdom into competitive advantage through startup thinking.Watch on AWS Executive Insights

Examine the evolving landscape of digital trust and identity security with Jacob DePriest, VP of Security and CISO at 1Password. Drawing from his diverse experience at the NSA, GitHub, and 1Password, DePriest shares best practices for managing shadow AI, implementing confidential computing, and addressing the emerging challenges of agentic AI. He emphasizes the critical balance between enabling innovation and maintaining robust security measures in an AI-driven world. From securing credentials with advanced authentication to navigating the complexities of AI governance, this episode examines how to build trust and security in an era where AI is reshaping digital identity management.

Join Olympic silver medalist Jenna Strauch as she shares powerful insights from her remarkable journey to Olympic success. Drawing parallels between elite sport and business leadership, Strauch reveals how data-driven decision-making, constructive feedback, and a focus on process over outcomes drives high performance. She discusses building resilient teams, managing setbacks, and fostering a culture where failure leads to growth. Her experience as part of the Australian Dolphins' leadership team demonstrates that true success comes from valuing people and mentoring the next generation of leaders. This episode is essential listening for leaders looking to empower high-performance teams through times of high-stress and transformation.